Updated

Updated · Deadline · Jul 4

Minions & Monsters Opens to Franchise-Low $64.5M as Toy Story 5 Crowds July 4 Box Office

Updated

Updated · Deadline · Jul 4

Minions & Monsters Opens to Franchise-Low $64.5M as Toy Story 5 Crowds July 4 Box Office

Q: Is the Minions' box office reign ending despite the franchise's good reviews?

Yes — the Minions franchise still won the holiday weekend, but its box-office dominance is clearly softening. “Minions & Monsters” opened at No. 1 with about $64.5 million over five days and $39.5 million over three days, but that is the weakest start in the “Despicable Me/Minions” series and far below “Despicable Me 4” and “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” both of which opened above $120 million over the same holiday frame. It also came in at the low end of pre-release expectations. That softer debut is notable because the film’s reception is strong. It earned an A- CinemaScore, around 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and some critics called it one of the best-reviewed entries in the franchise. In other words, the issue does not appear to be poor reviews. The more likely explanation is franchise fatigue in North America, combined with timing factors. Reports cited the July 4 holiday falling on a Saturday, a weaker moviegoing day, and competition from World Cup matches. Audience enthusiasm may also be less intense than reviews suggest, with a lower definite-recommend score on PostTrak and some viewers saying the series feels less fresh. Still, “ending” may be too strong globally. The franchise has already grossed $5.6 billion worldwide, and international markets usually provide more than 60 percent of its total. “Minions & Monsters” added roughly $87 million overseas, which suggests the brand remains powerful even if its U.S. peak may be behind it.

3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jul 4

$64.5 million over five days and $39.5 million for the weekend gave Minions & Monsters the weakest opening in the Despicable Me/Minions series, well below the roughly $80 million domestic target.
Toy Story 5 is still drawing families with a $32 million-$36 million third weekend, while Minions & Monsters also showed softer audience enthusiasm with a 58% definite recommend score versus 71% for Rise of Gru.
Overseas, the film is holding up better, adding an $87 million second international weekend for a $100 million foreign total and $164.5 million worldwide against an $85 million production budget.
The result points to franchise fatigue for the seventh film in 16 years, though Universal's reliance on merchandise and historically strong foreign sales means the release is not being treated as a bomb.